Too many of us are constantly comparing the myth of the perfect family to our own and coming away disappointed. In his new book Why Do I Love These People?, Po Bronson profiles 19 real-life families rife with dysfunction: messy divorces, infelities, substance abuse, teen pregnancy, and plain old intergenerational estrangement. Through a poignant narrative storytelling, Bronson catalogues how these families attempt to reconnect with one another to achieve happiness — sometimes achieving it through letting each other go. Bronson has an unromantic view of relationships and family life: foundations don’e lie in soul-bonding or dramatic emotional catharsis, but through steady, realistic expecations of hard work and compromise.

Visit Po Bronson’s Official Website.